TRACTOR OPERATORS CAUTIONED TO LEAVE UNPREPARED FARMLAND

“Exit any unprepared land to save your time and energy”. This is the advice from the director ofengineering services directorate at the ministry of Agriculture MoFA.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of a five day training workshop for tractor operators, farm managersand supervisors, Mr AKB Deyang holds the view that “to make the work of tractor operators mucheasier, it’s the responsibility of the farmer to get the land well prepared by clearing and uprootingstumps”.

The workshop which started on Monday August 6, gave all 53 participants made up of two female and51 male taken through theory which comprised the introduction to parts of tractor and farmmachineries, maintenance and safety precautions, types of plough/harrowing and techniques.Participants including amateurs had the opportunity on the 3 rd -5 th days to have hand-on practical withthe various farm machineries. Speaking to Fred Duhoe an Agriculture reporter, a first timer recount herexperience “we most often think operation of tractors and some of this machines is a reserve for malesand this is evident in the number of men participants, but I want to learn this and I am glad I came. It’sbeen a very nice experience and I hope to put this skills acquired to good use”- Olivet Delasi Gleku afemale participant.

The Establishment of Agricultural Mechanization Training Centers (EAMTC) Project in Ghana is aimed attraining operators to enhance their knowledge on the maintenance of their tractors so as to derive themost benefit out of the tractor’s useful life.

The two centers in Ghana was established in collaboration with the Japanese government through JiCAafter it was identified that tractors breakdown more often than expected which is due to lack ofknowledge on the part of tractor operators. “A tractor has a useful lifespan of 8-10 years when allservicing and maintenance culture is adhered to” Mr Alhassan, the resource person revealed.The Adidome in Volta and Wenchi in Brong Ahafo Region, Centers have since trained about 651participants and still hope to increase the numbers to cover farmers in the near future.

The participants were awarded certificates of participation and encouraged to learn more at their ownopportune time.